posterior @ 39+ weeks: anyone else??

[MuslimMama]

My baby is in a posterior position and I am over 39 weeks. I have tried to get her to turn, but so far she seems quite happy where she is. I have an AMAZING midwife who I am more than confident in. I know if anyone can get this baby to turn/ delivered normally she can. So I am not so much scared from that perspective, but just curious as to what lies ahead if in fact the baby doesnt turn until labor etc.

I am interested in hearing from any mamas who went into labor with a posterior baby and how things went during labor, etc. Dont worry about scaring me... just tell me the truth

(x-posted in June DDC)

[lizardmom]

My first was born posterior and I honestly didn't think it was that bad at the time. After I had my second though I realized that the back pain was a lot worse with a posterior baby. But still, not terrible. There were no complications or problems with her being born posterior but apparently I have "tons of room" in my pelvis so it might not be such a big deal for me. Which is lucky because I have another posterior baby this time who seems to have no intention of turning over. I'm not too worried since I already had one born that way!

[lunarlady]

I think my DD didn't turn until the start of labor. Then she twisted, and came out the normal way, but wrapped in her cord. No issues at all with labor or delivery.

I always used to say that she was "sunny side up" instead of "over easy." My current little one is sitting that way too, so I guess we will just wait and see. Makes for more interesting belly movement, that's for sure! Nothing quite like those little hands and feet going to town to make the belly look odd.

[CherryBomb]

Well my OP labor was awful! But she was also asynclitic. It ended in transfer and c/s, but she had other issues going on.

[porcelina]

I've done lots of reading on this because my first was posterior. It was a very difficult birth. It moved quickly at first, and then stalled. I had involuntary pushing that was causing my cervix to swell (i.e., close up). I ended up transferring to the hospital for an epidural. I got to a point where it was so painful I just wanted to "get it out." Thank goodness for the epidural -- it allowed me to refocus and eventually deliver vaginally. Total 18 hour labor.

So, what I've found from my reading is that MOST babies that start out posterior actually DO turn!! There was an article cited on the spinning babies website and I looked it up. Only about 8-10 percent of births are posterior, all said and done. It is rare for them to turn posterior during labor, but even that can happen.

The other thing I have to recommend is no AROM!! Give them as much a chance as you can during labor to turn. It is when I got AROM that things turned for the worse.

Third, the Birth Partner and Spinning Babies both have suggestions on what to do DURING labor to help baby turn. They suggest the following:
- lunging
- climbing stairs
- laying on one side for 1 hr, then turning to the other for 1 hr, etc.

I'm sure there's more, but you can look it up. Of course, you can keep trying while you're still pregnant with the other techniques on spinning babies.

I think whether a posterior birth is terribly difficult depends on a lot of things. For sure, the baby is facing a little bit differently, so the wider part of his head goes through. If you have a baby with a big head, it's all the more difficult (mine was 90 percentile).

Anyway, try to prepare yourself with positions that will help during labor, and try to be at peace with that being a real possibility. Hopefully, you'll be pleasantly surprised with the outcome.

[MamaFern]

my first was posterior up until labor when he turned. I did everything that my midwife suggested to get him to turn before hand, but he just liked that position! I did hands and knees (cat/cow yoga move), sitting/bouncing on the birth ball, walking lots up and down stairs, talking to baby about being in the best position for birth..but in the end it was he who decided to move around on his own, in his own time.

i hope the same happens for you!

[3sweetsurprises]

My second was posterior. My labor with her was easier than my first, however my first was induced. She turned 45 minutes after I started pushing and came out 1 push later. I also had my membranes ruptured but am glad that I did. Her position made my cervix dilate unevenly and slowly. I dilated faster once my membranes were ruptured.